From The Vault Review: “Macho Man” Randy Savage Mix Tape (part one)

The glorious folks at WWE Vault have done it again. In honor of “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s birthday, they’ve released a three hour video: “Macho Man” Randy Savage Mix Tape. It’s said to contain full matches, iconic promos and unseen footage. Sure, I’ll watch it!

This is going to be in two parts because it is three hours long and listen, I can only handle so much. This also strays from my usual Vault review rules as some of this is clearly on Peacock already. A lot of it isn’t though! I’ll try to specify, but I’ll be the first to tell you I especially can’t tell you when certain interview segments aired and on what show they did.

We start with one Mean Gene Okerlund, introducing a man who has turned it around 180 degrees – then another 360 and another 180. Macho says he’s a “chameleon, yeah.” He says Macho Madness is on a roll and it can’t be stopped. Mean Gene questions why he thinks of Sonny and Cher hits when he talks to Macho, and Macho talks about reincarnation and concentration. “But the beat goes on.” Gene asks about the Honky Tonk Man, and Randy says HE is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time and the greatest professional wrestler that ever lived “and I’m living right now!” Macho says, “I can’t sing and I can’t dance but I can make romance,” saying that Elizabeth followed him across the bridge and he’s going to the top. Macho Madness is coming straight to you, Honky Tonk Man!

We cut to some crazy old footage of Macho Man in a ring wrestling… someone. It appears to be in a warehouse with wood paneling? After throwing the man out of the ring, Randy cuts a promo to the camera. Macho asks the viewers to make a commitment to Channel 27, where you’re going to fall in love with the Macho Man.

WrestleMania VIII: Ric Flair vs Randy Savage for the WWF Title

You know this one! It’s been recapped and ranted on roughly 38 times on this site before. Macho brawls with Ric in the entrance, with Mr. Perfect pulling Savage off. This gives Flair time to get in the ring, where he starts the chops on Flair. The battle for control, with Flair eventually backdropping Randy out of the ring. Flairs meets Savage outside and lays in another chop before dropping him against the ring apron. Flair gets back in and Savage beats the count. Flair stomps Savage down and it should be noted how consistently loud this crowd is. Flair sets Macho up in the corner for more chops. Flair with a delayed standing suplex, but only gets a two count for the pin attempt. Bobby Heenan is very biased in all the right ways on commentary.

After another failed pin attempt, Flair sets Macho up in the opposite corner before whipping him across the ring back and forth. Another two count. Flair drops a knee. Macho rolls to the outside, where Flair follows and again batters him against the ring apron, working on his back. Flair suplexes Savage back in the ring, again for a two count. Another whip into the corner and more punches and stomps as it is all Flair. Macho tries to fight out of the corner with punches, then catches Flair in a reverse neckbreaker as the crowd roars. Flair beats Savage to his feet, but Savage blocks his punch and turns into punches of his own. Flair thumbs Macho in the eye, going up top but of course being slammed off by Macho Man. Flair would never learn to go up top. Flair begs off as Macho Irish whips him into the corner, then hits a backdrop and running clotheslines.

Flair is run into the corner, does the flip, runs across to the other side and misses his hit from the top rope. It’s only a two count for Randy as the crowd boos. Savage clothesline Flair over the top. Savage up top and hits a flying hit from the top to Flair on the floor. Flair runs and then flops on the ring mat, Macho picking him up and throwing him into the stairs. Flair is bleeding, as he does, and then flops down again face-first. Macho with a suplex on the outside mat as Flair is bleeding everywhere. Macho keeps going in to break the count, but finally brings Flair in. Macho goes up top again, hitting Flair with a double ax-handle but only for a two count. The crowd is INTO it. Savage with a slam and goes up top for the elbow. Savage soars, nails it and Perfect pulls Savage out at two. With Earl Hebner distracted, Perfect throws brass knuckles to Flair who nails Savage. Flair for the pin but Savage kicks out at two. Flair chokes Savage, then distracts Hebner as Perfect nails Savage with a chair. Here comes Miss Elizabeth to a giganti ovation as Flair jumps on Flair’s leg. She screams at ringside at Flair as Flair works on Savage’s knee, the target of Perfect’s chair. The figure four is on and Savage almost loses to a pinfall while in the hold.

Flair slaps Savage while he maintains the figure four, Savage trying to will his way out with the crowd’s help. Shane McMahon and Dave Hebner continue to try to talk Liz into leaving but she won’t. Savage reverses it, Earl kicking Perfect off the apron. Savage hooks a small package for the two count. Savage takes chops in the corner as Flair yells, “this is for you, baby” to Liz. Flair continues working the knee, but Savage punches out and hooks a rollup with a handful of tights and most of Flair’s ass out for the three! The crowd is molten as Savage and Liz celebrate with his belt. Flair pulls Liz away and she slaps the hell out of him, Macho jumping right back on him before a sea of officials separate the two. Chaos! This is one of those matches that many give five stars, and on the Very Official Peacockery Scale of Meaningless Star Ratings, I also give it five stars. Loved it, just like I did the previous times I watched it.

Next we have the complete music video of “Speaking from the Heart,” the song Macho… let’s call it performed for “WrestleMania: The Album.” I have been waiting patiently for the album to appear on streaming but we just haven’t gotten there yet. If this song was released in 2024, it probably would’ve been Macho Summer instead of brat summer. It’s a gloriously cheesy song and video which you can find right here on YouTube, though the version in the Macho Mixtape is a little better quality.

WCW Worldwide: Randy Savage vs Ultimo Dragon

Macho and Liz come out to the nWo theme song as Bobby Heenan remembers managing Randy’s father. Tony Schiavone is on the call with Bobby. I beg Tony Khan to put Ring of Honor in a studio every week with a ring that can spin. Give it some personality.

Macho and Ultimo go pretty high speed at first, including Dragon doing his handstand in the corner. Randy goes in and runs into the boots. Dragon runs into an elbow and Savage chokes him on the mat for a two count. As he distracts the referee, Elizabeth chokes Dragon out with Macho’s bandana which is wild to watch. And she does it multiple times! Savage whips Dragon in and hits a backdrop, which Ultimo bounces out of. Savage drops Ultimo across the top rope, then gets a scoop slam. He hits the top rope elbow and that’s an easy three. There wasn’t a lot to it, but it was unique and interesting to watch. **

We head to the WCW locker room with non-nWo Macho and Mean Gene. Macho says he beat the Zodiac and he can beat Hulk in the ring. Then we get this exchange:

Macho: “Your mustache is crooked!”

Gene: “Your beard is a little sideways too, but I don’t want to get into that!”

We go to the famous segment where Macho has the various managers of WWF in the ring, thanking them. Mr. Fuji, Bobby Heenan, Johnny Valiant, Freddie Blassie and Jimmy Hart all get their flowers, but Macho says he’s found his new manager. We meet Miss Elizabeth in her bedazzled gown as Vince McMahon is stunned by her beauty on commentary. Jimmy Hart tries to hold the rope for her, but Macho says no. We don’t learn who she is in this segment, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out at some point.

Randy Savage & Honky Tonk Man vs Hulk Hogan & Ricky Steamboat

Cagematch places this on a 1/05/87 Superstars taping as a dark match, though it has commentary and chyron so I’m sure it ended on a Coliseum Video or something. I looked away for ten seconds and there is a chair in the ring and the referee is down, apparently from someone throwing something at the ref. We get going properly as Steamboat throws Honky very slowly right into the Hogan boot. Steamboat taunts Savage with Honky’s hand for a tag, which gives Honky Tonk a chance to fight off. Savage hits a running crossbody for a two count. Savage leaps for Macho but misses. Hulk gets tagged in and takes Honky’s hand over to Savage, using it to tag Savage in. Hogan charges at Savage, who jumps to the mat outside.

Hogan tags Steamboat in as Macho yells at Liz. Hulk comes from behind and throws Savage in the ring, where Savage leaps into a Honky Tonk tag. Dragon with a snapmare as Hulk and Savage continue to argue across the ringside area. This is unhinged. Hulk’s eventually tagged in, giving Honky Tonk the ol’ point. Hulk & Dragon were kind of a really fun team. Hulk wags the finger, falling to an eyerake by Honky Tonk. Honky Tonk hammers Hulk in the corner, getting a series of five corner fists before Hulk picks him up and knee drops him. Hulk runs over Honky Tonk with a clothesline in the corner before tagging in Steamboat. Steamboat locks in a sleeper on Honky Tonk and Savage is spazzing out in the corner. Honky Tonk whips Steamboat into the corner, who takes a knee in the back from Savage.

Savage tags in and chokes Dragon on the top rope, snapping him off of it and running him into Honky Tonk’s boot. Honky Tonk is tagged back in, slamming Steamboat and hitting a fistdrop from the second rope. Savage chokes Steamboat, then runs across ringside to pull Hogan’s boot from the apron, then runs to the entrance and back. He’s just out of control and I see why this is on here. Hulk finally gets his hands on Savage at ringside, but not for long. Steamboat tries for a tag to Hulk but Honky Tonk stops him, pounding him down with fists. Savage and Hogan are tagged in and we’re Hulking up. Hulk fights off both men before hitting the big boot. He tags in Steamboat, who chops away on Savage. Savage goes up top and hits a flying chop. He’s up to the other corner and Honky Tonk pushes him off. Chaos breaks out as Savage throws down the referee and goes up top with the bell, but Hulk holds onto him long enough for Steamboat to body-press him off. Savage runs off to the back as Hogan throws Jimmy Hart in the ring. They whip Hart and Honky Tonk into each other. Steamboat whips Hart into the big boot, who gives it a flying sell.

It’s a DQ win for the good guys. You know what, I really enjoyed this. It was straight chaos for almost the entire match. Steamboat was on fire with the crowd behind him and Savage was completely unhinged the entire match, which was fun to watch. ****

We go to TNT. Mean Gene is at the desk while Macho, Elizabeth and a gentleman who is said to be a psychologist. The doctor says he’s been studying the Macho Man. He says he put Macho through some extensive psychological tests. We cut to the tape of Savage on his couch in the most bedazzled jacket he could find. We’re doing word association with the doctor. Savage says it’s non-title.

Macho. “Macho Man Randy Savage!” Pump. “Pumping iron!” Gun. “Fastest gun in the west, east, south and north!” Muscle. “Bulging with muscles.” Belt. “That’s what I’m going to do to Hulk Hogan.” Sweat. “Blood, sweat and tears.” Kitten. “That’s what women are when I look at them, little baby kittens.” Female. “The race of people that admire and lust after the Macho Man.” Stud. “You’re looking at ‘em right now!” Sucker.” Hulk Hogan!” Animal. “What do you mean animal?” Savage goes off on a George Steele rant, saying the doctor is trying to embarrass him.

WCW Monday Nitro – Randy Savage vs Hugh Morrus

Oh good, Hugh Morrus. Yay. Morrus attacks Savage at ringside, dropping him on the ringside barrier. Morrus continues to throw Savage around ringside, slamming him on the mat. They make it in the ring finally and Morrus puts on the jacket, hat and glasses, a true sin. Savage fights out of the corner, stabbing the glasses into Hugh’s eye. Yeah, that’ll do it. Savage chokes Hugh with his jacket, slinging him over the top rope and hanging him with it. The referee calls for the bell and we never really got a match out of this, but it was a good brawl. Savage still hits a top rope elbow because why not. Then he slaps the referee in the face, throwing Hugh out of the ring. He slams the referee and goes up top, jumping over another referee to hit him with an elbow. Do you like the sound of a bell ringing for two minutes straight? You’ll love this. Doug Dillenger eventually arrives, as timely as ever as the head security, and gets Savage out of the ring. It was a fun brawl. *** for entertainment purposes.

Now we go to WWF Mania (I recognize the bright-ass yellow graphic) and Macho Man is at the White House with an Easter Bunny. He asks the Bunny if they’re a male or female, then kisses it when finding out it is a female.

Randy Savage vs Undertaker

This looks to be from the 7/31/91 Wrestling Challenge/Prime Time taping and has no commentary. Savage whips Taker into the corner with an elbow, then tries for another but misses. He hits Taker with a running clothesline to the outside, but Taker lands on his feet because he’s dead and all. An on-screen graphic tells us “presented in most complete form.” Taker finds his way back in, choking Savage on the ropes repeatedly. Early Taker was not known for his in-ring work. Paul Bearer declares it all over as Taker slings Macho head-first into the turnbuckle. More choking. Savage tries to fight out, but then there’s choking again. And a choke to the corner. There’s so much choking here that it’s like watching (insert the loser of the boxing match I definitely watched here)! Taker chokes Savage with his foot against the rope now just to varying the choke.

Savage eventually battles out but runs into a boot in the corner. Taker hits his running leaping clothesline. He goes for the “Old School” top rope move back when it was just regular school. The pace here couldn’t be much slower. Taker misses a running elbow as Savage hits him with the knee to the back, pushing him outside. Savage leaps on him outside and just like that, we’ve lost the rest of the video. Welp. Even with the ending, I’m not sure it would be more than a *.

Savage is poolside now, talking with a director on how he’s going to show his muscles as he jumps off the diving board.

We’re back to “Speaking From the Heart” now, but it’s bluescreen video of Savage trying to lip sync in time to the song as well as dancing to it. It’s exactly as entertaining as you’d think. **********

WCW Saturday Night – Randy Savage vs Arn Anderson for the TV Title

This is from the 1/28/95 Saturday Night. Anderson is defending with Tony & Bobby on the call. This is the first of only three singles matches between the two, with only one of the two others being televised (Nitro). We’ve stalled through the first minute. There’s not a lot happening besides lockups. Savage hooks on a sleeper, which Arn arm drags out of. Arn runs outside and Savage follows, though Meng steps between and Savage steps back. Bobby reminds us of the TV Title time limit. Armdrag by Arn in the ring, followed by a shoulder block and a two count. Savage with right hands and a snapmare of his own, getting a two.

Arn goes outside again as Bobby reminds us of the time limit. Little bit of telegraphing! Meng again steps in front of Savage. Anderson runs Savage into the ringpost and we’re back in the ring. Arn drops a knee to Savage’s face then chokes him on the rope. Gary Capeta announces we have ten minutes to go. Anderson punches Macho in the corner, whipping him in but falling to a sunset flip for a two count. Anderson with a front facelock. The fans chant “Macho” as Savage elbows out, but then runs into an elbow himself. Savage rolls out and pulls Arn out with him, both men brawling to the mat before Arn regains control.

Back in, Savage hits a suplex and runs directly into Arn, taking both men down. The fans are very into it all. WCW studio crowds were the best. Savage kicks out of the corner but Arn takes control. Savage catches Arn with a standing sleeper, but Arn hits a jawbreaker to get out. They exchange punches on their knees before Savage gouges Savage’s eyes.

We fight to the outside and Savage is again rammed into the ringpost. Arn runs in but Savage moves, with Arn hitting the post. Five minute warning. Savage gets a two count. Arn with another jawbreaker. Col. Parker chokes Randy as Arn distracts the referee. Four minutes to go. A headlock by Arn as he winds down the clock. Three minutes. Savage hits a jawbreaker of his own to escape, following with an atomic drop and kneeing Arn out of the ring. Two minute warning as Savage goes up to and hits a flying axehandle to the outside. He runs Arn into the ringpost again, rolling Arn in and going up top for a crossbody, which Arn rolls into a two-count. Savage with a back body drop and a two. Sixty seconds as Arn hits Randy with an elbow. Arn tries for a DDT but Savage holds the rope. Savage spits at Col. Parker as we hear thirty seconds are left. Arn suplexes Randy back in the ring. Fifteen seconds and Savage isn’t winning this one. Savage suplexes Arn off the top but time expires. Savage goes up top anyway, dropping the elbow and the referee counts it for a pin anyway. We clarify quickly that the title doesn’t change as the Stud Stable runs in to gang up on Savage. Sting and Dustin Rhodes come in to even the odds to end our show as chaotically as possible. **

This puts the entire video at the 1:34 mark, which seems like a good time to end part one. This is a mixtape, right? We can say this was side one. Tune in for part two next!